Methods for Rating the Scientific Quality of Published Investigations

Things to Consider When Writing a Research Paper:

These are the more popular methods of rating research papers for scientific quality: In order for your paper to be included in a meta-analysis or systematic review, your paper must score at least 50 points on the first system and at leat 16 on the second system. Otherwise, all that hard work that went into creating your research paper will be thrown out and won't count.

First we have the AHRQ's and Cochrane Review Criteria. Although, this is a little more stringent system, it is what is currently being used by some of the "gods" of research--i.e., Manchikanti, Hirsch, Derby, Carragee etc.

This next system, the Down's System, is a little more liberal but less frequently used as inclusion criteria for meta-analysis and systematic review studies.

There is yet another system gaining popularity--SCORE--which was recently adapted by the World Health Organization, but that's not yet popular here in the United States.

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